Vehicle-driving game

ABSTRACT

A vehicle-driving game where the street, a first group of cars and a second group of cars are pictured on separate transparent discs. A lamp behind the discs superimposes all three images, and additionally the image of a drive-controlled car, on a screen in front of the driver. Each of the three discs is separately driven, the speed of the road-bearing disc being controlled by the driver, and the speed of the two car-bearing discs being controlled by a differential gear mechanism between the road disc and each of the car discs, and a programmed control motor for each car disc. The image on the screen shows two groups of cars, each moving at a speed independent of the other group but determined through the differential by the relative speed of the roadway and the programmed controller. A photosensitive element on the driver-controlled car controls a circuit to a sounder which sounds when the image of one of the cars on one of the discs overlaps that of the driver-controlled car and blocks the light rays from the lamp.

Inventor Kenzo Furukawa FOREIGN PATENTS 3 9 1,073,211 6/1967 GreatBritain................ 35/11 KarasumadmKamldachmrmflam 484,664 9/1953Italy 273/102 Higashuriu, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan [2]] Appl. No.831,378 Primary Examiner-George]. Marlo June 9, 1969 AssistantExaminer-Paul E. Shapiro [45] Patented Apr. 20, 1971Att0rneyChristensen, Sanbom & Matthews Priority June 24, 1968 Japan 43/43811 ABSTRACT: A vehicle-driving game where the street, a first groupof cars and a second group of cars are pictured on separate transparentdiscs. A lamp behind the discs 7 Cl 9 Dr superimposes all three images,and additionally the image of a aims awmg dnve-controlled car, on ascreen in front of the driver. Each of the three discs is se UnitedStates Patent [22] Filed [54] VEHICLE-DRIVING GAME peed of the roadwayphotosensitive element on g controlled by a differential gear mechanismbetween the road disc and each of the car groups of cars, each moving atother group but determined circuit to a sounder which sounds when theimage of one of the cars on one of the discs overlaps that of thedriver-controlled car and blocks the 11 parately driven, the speed ofthe roadontrolled by the driver, and the speed of bearing disc being 0the two car-bearing discs bein discs, and a programmed control motor foreach car disc. The image on the screen shows two a speed independent ofthe through the differential by the relative s and the programmedcontroller. A

the driver-controlled car controls a rays from the lamp.

9 9 H MB E ME aw K N 3 100 2 3/... 3H3

mm S 2 3 "m m n u" 4/ U E n m u u m cs m 4 mm R, m m A mnnnk E/ u mTd fil. 8 a es bt m L u .n .d mfloma 0 4 m EFGHPH m 2355 m mr 66666 c u am99999 11111 n Ill/l IL m 2027- C U 11 M S L 98362 7994 U mF 1 1 on2 2 l06 4 2 B "DU "D. 33333 273/l(E)X 273/l(E)X l l 4 i 4 E 4 i 4Z5 4 myPatented April 20, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet- 1 @UNTRULLER ATTORNEYS PatentedApril 20, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE NTOR ATTORNEYS Patented April 20,1971 3,5 75,413

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG] 37 v w m 17 39 f F169 21 k 12 13 76 l 77 7 2 73 7433 I CUUNTER COUNTER INVENTOR ATTORNEY VEHICLE-DRIVING GAME Thisinvention relates to a vehicle-driving game in which the player controlsthe running of a miniature model vehicle by handing a steering wheel andregulating an accelerator pedal as if he were driving a real vehiclesuch as an automobile.

In one well-known vehicle-driving game of this type, a figure simulatinga serpentine street is drawn on the outer surface of an endless beltdriven in a predetermined direction, and a model miniature vehicle suchas an automobile (to be referred to as a car) is disposed on the outersurface of the belt in such a manner as to be movable relative to theendless belt. A steering wheel provided on the front panel of the casingof the game is connected by a suitable mechanism to the front wheels ofthe car, so that the player of the game can control the runningdirection of the car. As the endless belt is driven, the model carappears as if it were running along the street drawn on the outersurface of the belt. Since the street runs serpentine, the player mustcontrol the car so that it properly follows the street.

In this type of vehicle-driving game, however, there is on the street asingle car to be driven by the player. It would be more amusing to beable to drive ones own car, with many other cars running on the samestreet, passing them ahead or letting them pass one s own driving carahead.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide avehicle-driving game in which the player can drive his own car with manyother cars running alongside his own at various speeds.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a vehicledriving gameas aforesaid in which the player can change the speed and/or directionof his own car, avoiding collision with any of the other running cars.

Suppose that you are driving an automobile on a street. To you theautomobile you are driving appears to be standing motionless while thestreet itself appears as if it were running in the direction opposite tothe running direction of your car. if there is another car running atthe same speed as your car, that car appears to you as if it also werestanding motionless like yours. If that other car is running faster thanyours, it appears to you as if it were running ahead of you at a speedequal to the difference between the actual speeds of the two cars. n thecontrary, if that other car is running more slowly than your car, itappears as if it were running backwardly at a speed equal to thedifference between the speeds of the two cars. As you speed up, thespeed of the apparent movement of the street increases. Under thecondition, if the speed of that other car remains unchanged, that othercar appears as if it were slowing down.

With another car running in the same direction as, and at a speeddifferent from, your car, if you change the running direction of yourcar, you can pass the other car ahead or let it pass yours ahead.

The device of the invention is based on the above principle andcomprises a screen; means for projecting onto the screen an image of acar the player of the game is supposed to be driving, an image of astreet or road which appears as if it were running relative to the car,and images of many other cars which appear as if they were also runningon the street; means operated by the player to change the speed ofmovement of the image of the street and, consequently, that of theapparent movement of the image of the car the player is driving; meansoperated by the player to change the running direction of the car theplayer is driving; and means for periodically changing the running speedof the other cars.

The game of the invention may be played in such a manner as to competefor the least number of collisions that have occurred between the carthe player is driving and the other cars. The arrangement may also besuch that whenever a collision has occurred, the car the player isdriving is stopped for a predetermined period of time (actually, themovement of the street is stopped), and the game may be played in such amanner as to compete for the longest distance the car has covered for apredetennined period of time (actually, the longest distance of movementof the street).

In one embodiment, the device of the invention comprises a rotary discon which a figure of a street is circumferentially and endlessly drawn,and one or more additional rotary discs on which figures of manyvehicles are drawn. These rotary discs are mounted side by side on acommon shaft which is rotated by a motor. The rotational speed of theformer disc can be varied by means of an accelerator the player of thegame controls, and the latter discs are rotated at a speed correspondingto the difference between a periodically changing rotational speed andthe speed of the former disc. A model miniature can is provided, whichis moved by means of a steering wheel to be handled by the player of thegame relative to the figure of the street drawn on the former rotarydisc, with the figures of many other vehicles being drawn on the latterrotary discs. A screen is provided, on which the image of the model carand the image of part of the rotary discs including some of the othercars, and the image of part of the street are projected. These images onthe screen are reflected by a plane mirror to be seen by the playerstanding in front of the mirror.

lf the rotational speed of the former disc on which the figure of thestreet is drawn is smaller than the above-mentioned periodicallychanging rotational speed, the car the player is driving appears as ifit were running at a speed lower than the speeds of the other cars. Onthe contrary, if the rotational speed of the former disc is greater thanthe periodically changing rotational speed, the car the player isdriving appears as if it were running at a speed higher than those ofthe other cars. Thus, the player of the game can drive his car, avoidingcollision with any of the other cars by changing the speed and/or thedirection of his car.

The invention will be clearly understood by reading the followingdescription of one embodiment of the invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in vertical section, of the multirotarydisc mechanism shown in FlG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mechanism for moving the model car andthe lamp used in the device of FIG. 1;

FlG. 5 is a perspective view of the differential gear means used in thedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view, partly in vertical section, of the acceleratorpedal means used in the device of FIG. 1;

HO. 7 is a diagram of a circuit for varying the apparent speed of themodel car;

HO. 8 is a front view of the mirror used in the device of FIG. 1, onwhich the images of the cars and street drawn on the rotary discs of themultirotary disc mechanism are projected to be seen by the player of thegame; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a circuit for measuring the distance the modelcar the player is driving has run and the number of collisions it hasmade with the other cars, and for making a sound when a collision occursbetween the model car the player is driving and any of the other cars.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, first to FIG. 1, there isschematically shown a housing 10 enclosing a multirotary disc mechanismgenerally designated by 11 and including three rotary discs 21,25 and 26made of a transparent material, and a lamp 12 and a model miniature car13 at the opposite sides of the mechanism 1 1. As will be describedlater in detail, the lamp and the model car are moved by the player ofthe game in ganged relation. The housing 10 also encloses a screen 14above the mechanism 11 and the mirror 15 above the screen 14. The lightfrom the lamp 12 passes through part of the discs 21, 25 and 26 and themodel car 13 to reach the screen 114, so that the images of the figureson the discs and the model car are projected on the screen, and thenreflected by the mirror 15 to be seen by a player of the game standingin front of the housing 10.

A steering wheel 16 is provided on the front panel of the housing 10,and below the wheel there is provided an accelerator pedal 17 to bestepped on by the player. it will be easily seen that as the playerstanding in front of the housing and looking at the mirror handles thesteering wheel 16 and controls the pressure and the pedal 17 as if hewere driving an automobile.

Turning to F I65. 2 and 3 which show the multirotary disc mechanism 11in detail, the disc 21 is divided into three concentric annular areas22, 23 and 24. The central annular area 22 is supposed to be a streetand the outer and inner annular areas 23 and 24, the opposite sides ofthe street. Suitable figures or pictures depicting a street and streetsides are drawn on these areas of the disc 21. In the illustratedembodiment, the street on the central annular area 23 of the disc 21 hastwo lanes. The other two discs 25 and 26 are provided to correspond tothe two lanes on the disc 21.

The three discs 21, 25 and 26 are vertically mounted on a commonhorizontal shaft 27. The disc 21 is secured to the shaft 27 forsimultaneous rotation therewith, while the other two discs are looselymounted on the shaft 27 for free rotation relative thereto. On the disc25 there are drawn a plurality of figures of vehicles such asautomobiles 28 (to be referred to simply as cars) within that annulararea which corresponds to the inner lane of the street on the disc,while on the disc 26 there are drawn a plurality of figures of vehiclessuch as automobiles 29 (to be referred to simply as cars) within thatannular area which corresponds to the outer lane of the street on thedisc 21.

The shaft 27 is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings 31 and 32 andis driven by a motor 33. The rotational speed of the motor 33 can bevaried by the accelerator pedal 17. As shown in detail in FIG. 6, thepedal 17 is pivoted at 35 and biased counterclockwise by a coil spring36. The pedal 17 is connected by a link 37 to a carbon rheostat 38 whichincludes a plurality of piled carbon plates so that variation of thepressure on the carbon plates results in the variation of the electricalresistance of the rheostat. The arrangement is such that as the pedal isstepped on, it is rotated clockwise about the pivot 35 so as to decreasethe resistance of the rheostat 38. As shown in FIG. 7 the rheostat 38 isconnected in series with the motor 33 between a pair of source terminals39. Thus, the more the pedal 17 is stepped on, the more the speed of themotor increases, and as the pressure on the pedal is released, the speedof the motor decreases. As the rotational speed of the motor 33 changes,the rotational speed of the disc 21 changes, so that it appears as ifthe speed of the car 13 on the screen changed.

The discs 25 and 26 are associated with differential gear mechanisms 41and 42, respectively. The differential gear mechanism 41 comprises apulley 43 rotatably mounted on the shaft 27 and having an internal gear43a formed therein, a gear 44 secured to the shaft for simultaneousrotation therewith, and an output gear 45 meshing with the gears 43a and44 and rotatably support on a pin 46 secured to the disc 25. A motor 47rotates a pulley 49, the rotation of which is transmitted to the pulley43 by means of an endless belt 50. The pulley 43 is rotated in thedirection opposite to that of the shaft 27. The rotational speed of themotor 47 is automatically and periodically varied by a suitablecontroller 48.

While the gears 43 and 44 are being rotated in the opposite directionsat the same circumferential speed, the output gear 45 simply rotatesabout the pin 46 and does not revolve around the shaft 27. As a result,no relative positional change occurs among the pulley 43, gears 44 and45. However, when the controller 48 causes the rotational speed of thegear 43a to change, so that there occurs a difference between therotational speeds of the gears 43a and 44, the gear 45 (the pin 46)revolves around the shaft 27 at a speed corresponding to the differencebetween the speeds of the two gears 43a and 44 and in the same directionas the rotational direction of that one of the gears 43a and 44 therotational speed of which is greater than that of the other. Therevolution of the gear 45 around the shaft 27 causes the disc 25 torotate about the shaft 27. 1f the rotational speed of the gear 43a isgreater than that of the gear 44, the disc 25 rotates about the shaft 27in the direction opposite to that of the disc 21 at a speedcorresponding to the difference between the rotational speeds of thegears 43a and 44. As a result, the cars 28 on the inner lane of thestreet 22 appears as if they were running faster than the car 13 theplayer is driving. On the contrary, if the rotational speed of the gear44 is greater than that of the gear 43, the disc 25 rotates in the samedirection as, and faster than, the disc 21. As a result, the cars 28appear as if they were running at a lower speed than the car the playeris driving.

The other differential gear mechanism 42 is of the same construction asthe mechanism 41 just described above, so that corresponding parts aredesignated by the same reference numerals with a dash attached thereto.A motor 47 for driving the mechanism 42 is controlled by a controller 48similar to the controller 48. Preferably, the degree of change of therotational speed ofthe motor 47' as well as the cycle of the change isset different from those of the motor 47. It will be easily seen thatupon revolution of the gear 45' (the pin 46) around the shaft 27, thecars 29 on the outer lane of the street appear as if they were runningfaster or more slowly than the car 13.

In place of the two motors 47 and 47, a single motor may suffice, theoutput of which may be transmitted to the pulleys 43 and 43' through theseparate controllers 48 and 48.

As previously mentioned, the lamp l2 and the model car 13 are moved in aganged relation to each other. The lamp 12 is fixed to an arm 52 whichis in turn secured to a shaft 51 for simultaneous movement therewith,and the car 13 is supported by a rod 54 secured to an arm 52. The arm 52is also secured to the shaft 51 for simultaneous movement therewith. Asector gear 57 rotatable about a pin 56 is pivotally connected by alever 58 to the shaft 51. A pinion gear 59 secured to the column of thesteering wheel 16 meshes with the sector gear 57. When the steeringwheel is rotated in either direction, the sector gear 57 is rotatedthereby rotating the shaft 51. As a result, the levers 52 and 53 aretilted toward either side thereby moving right and left the lamps 12 andthe model car 13 at the same time. Thus, as the model car 13 is movedright and left relative to the disc 21, the car 13 appears on the mirror15 as ifit changed from one of the lanes on the street to the other.

Instead of moving the lamp 12 and the model car 13 relative to themultirotary disc mechanism 11, the arrangement may also be such that themechanism 11 is moved relative to the lamp 12 and the model car 13 bymeans of the steering wheel 16. If the area on the discs that can beilluminated by the lamp 12 is that which is enclosed by dash and dotlines in FIG. 3, the image the player of the game sees on the mirror 15is like that shown in FIG. 8. Suppose that in FIG. 8, the image 61 ofthe disc 21 is moving in the direction of an arrow 62. Even if the modelcar 13 actually remains motionless, its image 63 on the mirror 15appears as if it were running in the opposite direction, that is,forwardly in FIG. 8. Under the condition, if the model car 13 is movedright or left by turning the steering wheel 16, its image 63 moves rightor left on the image of the street, thereby changing its course from oneof the lanes to the other. If the player changes the pressure on thepedal 17, the rotational speed of the disc 21 changes, with a resultingchange in the apparent running speed of his driving car 13. The othercars 28 and 29 drawn on the discs 25 and 26 appear on the mirror 15 asthe images 68 and 69, respectively. As previously mentioned, thecontrollers 48 and 48' change the apparent running speed of the cars 68and 69 independently of the car 63 the player is driving. Therefore, theplayer must handle the steering wheel 16 and/or operates the accelerator17 so that the car 63 does not collide with any of the other cars 68 and69. When his car has collided with any one of the other cars, that is,actually the image 63 overlaps any one of the images 68 and 69, thelight beam hitting on the model car 13 must have been intercepted by thefigure of a car 28 or 29 on the disc 25 or 26. Therefore, aphotosensitive element 71 such as a eds element, a phototransistor, etc.is provided on the model car 13. When the light beam entering theelement 71 is intercepted by the figure of a car 28 or 29, an amplifier72 connected to the element 71 produces an output which is amplified byanother amplifier 73 to cause a loud speaker 74 to produce a soundsimulating that produced by a collision between vehicles.

A digital counter 75 is provided to count the number of the outputsignals. produced by the amplifier 72 during a predetermined period oftime, that is, the time during which the player is allowed to play thegame. The result of the counting is indicated. The number of the outputsignals produced by the amplifier 72 means the number of collisions thathave occurred during the play time. Thus, the game can be played tocomplete for the least number of collisions that have been made duringthe play time.

The output from the amplifier 72 is also applied to a timer 76, whichbreaks a line 34 connecting the motor 33 to a source of electric energyfor a predetermined relatively short period of time. Another counter 77is provided to count the number of rotations of the disc 21. This numberis supposed to be the distance the car 13 the player is driving has run.Therefore, the more is the number of collisions that have occurred, theoftener the disc 21 and consequently the car 13 will stop and the lesswill become the number of rotations of the disc 21 and, consequently,the distance the car 13 has run during the play time. Thus, the game canbe played to compete for the greatest distance that has been coveredduring the play time. The rules may be such that if a predetermineddistance has been covered during the play time, another play may beenjoyed by the same player.

lclaim:

l. A vehicle-driving game, comprising: a multirotary disc mechanismcomprising a first rotary disc made of a lighttransmitting material, onwhich a figure of a streetis circumferentially drawn, a second rotarydisc made of a lighttransmitting material, on which a figure of at leastone vehicle is drawn in the area corresponding to said figure of astreet on said first rotary disc; a differential gear means including aninput rotary member adapted to be rotated in the direction opposite tothe rotational direction of said first rotary disc, the rotational speedof said input gear being automatically varied, an output rotary memberassociated with said input rotary member and having an axis adapted tobe revolved around the axis of said first rotary disc at a speedcorresponding to the difference between the rotational speeds of saidfirst rotary disc and said input rotary member and in the same directionas that one of said first rotary disc and said input rotary member therotational speed of which is greater; and means for connecting said axisof said output rotary member to said second rotary disc so that uponrevolution of said axis said second rotary disc is rotated; a lamp; amodel vehicle; means for supporting said lamp and' said model vehicle atthe opposite sides of said multirotary disc mechanism; means for movingsaid model relative to said first rotary disc crosswise of said figureof a street drawn thereon; means including a screen on which the imageof said model vehicle and the image of said figure of a street and saidat least one vehicle on said first and second rotary discs are projectedso as to be seen by the player of said game; and means operated by theplayer to change the rotational speed of said first rotary disc.

2. The vehicle-driving game of claim 1, wherein said multirotary discmechanism comprises a first rotary disc made of a light-transmittingmaterial, on which a figure of a street having a plurality of lanes isdrawn, and a plurality of second rotary discs made of alight-transmitting material, on each of which a figure of at least onevehicle is drawn in the area corresponding to one of said lanes of thestreet on said first rotary disc, and wherein said differential gearmeans is provided for each one of said second discs.

3. The vehicle-driving game of claim 1, wherein said model vehicle isprovided with a photosensitive element adapted to receive the lightemitted by said lamp and produce an output signal when said light isintercepted by said figure of a vehicle on said second rotary disc.

4. The vehicle-driving game of claim 3, further including means operablein response to said signal to produce a sound similar to that producedupon collision of vehicles.

5. The vehicle-driving game of claim 3, further including means operablein response to said signal to stop the rotation of said first rotarydisc for a predetermined relatively short period of time.

6. The vehicle-driving game of claim 5, further including means forcounting the number of rotations of said first rotary disc for apredetermined period of time and indicating the counted number as thedistance that said model vehicle has run.

7. The vehicle-driving game of claim 3, further including means forcounting the number of signals produced by said photosensitive elementduring a predetermined period of time and indicating the counted number.

1. A vehicle-driving game, comprising: a multirotary disc mechanismcomprising a first rotary disc made of a lighttransmitting material, onwhich a figure of a street is circumferentially drawn, a second rotarydisc made of a lighttransmitting material, on which a figure of at leastone vehicle is drawn in the area corresponding to said figure of astreet on said first rotary disc; a differential gear means including aninput rotary member adapted to be rotated in the direction opposite tothe rotational direction of said first rotary disc, the rotational speedof said input gear being automatically varied, an output rotary memberassociated with said input rotary member and having an axis adapted tobe revolved around the axis of said first rotary disc at a speedcorresponding to the difference between the rotational speeds of saidfirst rotary disc and said input rotary member and in the same directionas that one of said first rotary disc and said input rotary member therotational speed of which is greater; and means for connecting said axisof said output rotary member to said second rotary disc so that uponrevolution of said axis said second rotary disc is rotated; a lamp; amodel vehicle; means for supporting said lamp and said model vehicle atthe opposite sides of said multirotary disc mechanism; means for movingsaid model relative to said first rotary disc crosswise of said figureof a street drawn thereon; means including a screen on which the imageof said model vehicle and the image of said figure of a street and saidat least one vehicle on said first and second rotary discs are projectedso as to be seen by the player of said game; and means operated by theplayer to change the rotational speed of said first rotary disc.
 2. Thevehicle-driving game of claim 1, wherein said multirotary disc mechanismcomprises a first rotary disc made of a light-transmitting material, onwhich a figure of a street having a plurality of lanes is drawn, and aplurality of second rotary discs made of a light-transmitting material,on each of which a figure of at least one vehicle is drawn in the areacorresponding to one of said lanes of the street on said first rotarydisc, and wherein said differential gear means is provided for each oneof said second discs.
 3. The vehicle-driving game of claim 1, whereinsaid model vehicle is provided with a photosensitive element adapted toreceive the light emitted by said lamp and produce an output signal whensaid light is intercepted by said figure of a vehicle on said secondrotary disc.
 4. The vehicle-driving game of claim 3, further includingmeans operable in response to said signal to produce a sound similar tothat produced upon collision of vehicles.
 5. The vehicle-driving game ofclaim 3, further including means operable in response to said signal tostop the rotation of said first rotary disc for a predeterminedrelatively short period of time.
 6. The vehicle-driving game of claim 5,further including means for counting the number of rotations of saidfirst rotary disc for a predetermined period of time and indicating thecounted number as the distance that said model vehicle has run.
 7. Thevehicle-driving game of claim 3, further including means for countingthe number of signals produced by said photosensitive element during apredetermined period of time and indicaTing the counted number.